Spanish journalists have given a hint at Real Madrid’s starting lineup against Arsenal on Wednesday night, revealing the side Carlo Ancelotti has been rehearsing with.
Relevo journalist Javier Rodriguez Pascual reports that Real Madrid’s latest training sessions suggest former Gunner Dani Ceballos could be set for a start against Arsenal on Wednesday night.
Based on the team Carlo Ancelotti has been trialling in training, Relevo predict the following starting lineup:
Courtois; Asencio, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Alaba; Ceballos, Valverde, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius, and Mbappe.
Pascual adds that the team isn’t guaranteed. Though Ancelotti wants to give Ceballos a starting spot for the remainder of the season, and he’s hoping to have him in the lineup as soon as possible, he’s also wary of overexerting the Spanish midfielder.
Ceballos was out injured for over a month, only returning to the pitch in injury time in Real Madrid’s La Liga fixture against Alaves at the weekend.
To go from one brief cameo appearance to a start in a Champions League quarter-final second leg would be quite a jump.
As previously reported, Ancelotti’s usual starting left-back in the Champions League is unavailable. Ferland Mendy remains injured, and won’t return in time for Wednesday’s game.
Eduardo Camavinga is absent through suspension, and backup goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is injured as well.
Federico Valverde and David Alaba both shook off knocks to feature in Ancelotti’s squad against Alaves on Sunday, with Aurelien Tchouameni also returning after his first-leg suspension against Arsenal. All three are expected to start.